National Writers Union Supports General Strike in Spain

Submitted by Barry Hock on March 29, 2012 - 2:02pm

National Writers Union Supports General Strike in Spain

The National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981, stands in solidarity with our brother and sister journalists in Spain and the March 29 General Strike. Among the many writers’ organizations supporting the strike are the International Federation of Journalists, the Federación de Servicios a la Ciudadania de CC.OO (FSC-CC.OO) and the Federation of Journalists' Unions of Spain (FeSP).

Spanish journalists are protesting draconian austerity measures that were introduced by the conservative government on behalf of big business, European and world financial institutions. These measures would weaken collective bargaining agreements, make lay-offs much easier, cut public services and reduce social benefits for the unemployed.

Journalists and media employees, like other workers, have been severely affected by low salaries, precarious working conditions and rising unemployment. Reports are that nearly 3,000 media employees have lost their jobs since 2008; with another 1,000 expected to lose their jobs this quarter.

We trust the General Strike will be a major success and force the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to go back to the negotiation table with the unions for labor law reform.